Police: Arson Caused Blaze At Auto Firm

The fire that raced through the service department at Al Packer Ford west of West Palm Beach late on Sunday was deliberately set in four places throughout the building, officials said on Monday.

Inspectors from Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue and arson investigators from the Sheriff`s Office said the blaze was set inside four automobiles parked at the four corners of the huge concrete block and corrugated steel building. Investigators said the fires were probably set with gasoline or oil stored inside the building.

``There were so many (flammable substances) already inside,`` detective Ralf Creling said. ``I don`t think they had to bring anything in with them.``

A back door to the service building was unlocked, officials said.

More than two dozen firefighters responded to the report of the fire at the dealership on Military Trail south of Okeechobee Boulevard. It took about 90 minutes to control the flames, which reached 10 feet above the roof of the 20- foot-tall structure.

One firefighter was overcome by heat, officials said. There were no other injuries.

Ten cars, vans and trucks belonging to customers, and one employee`s car, were stored in the service building, behind the dealership`s main showroom.

Some cars were destroyed. Others were burned badly or stained with tar that melted and dripped from the roof.

All the cars probably will need to be replaced, Al Packer service manager Rich Alm said. One of the vans destroyed in the blaze belonged to the state Department of Transportation, he said.

Investigators said the loss in automobiles will exceed $100,000. The total cost of the damage had not been determined on Monday. Alm said it will be at least a month before the service department reopens.